DJ Rata and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swing at WHAM-O WATUSI!

April started out with a bang for Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus. It all began with a trip to Allentown, Pennsylvania for the Original World Famous Semi-Annual 45/78 Only Record Expo, hosted by Surround Sound Productions at the Merchants Square Mall. This event actually took place on Saturday April 2, but The Boog, along with Boogaloo Bag photographer Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner, Yana Lil’ Jerk and Miss Melissa went up a day early to work the hotel room scene: Dozens of dealers in a nearby hotel set up little record stores in their respective rooms, buying and selling from each other, and any record collector who drops in. Man, did they buy records!

The Boog was able to pick up a few garage rock records (“Psycho” by The Swamp Rats, “Fight Fire” by The Fantastic Dee Jays), boss R&B (Bo Diddley’s very rare EP on Chess with the cardboard cover, all in most excellent shape!), some European pressings of Motown singles that feature tracks not available in the US, a few soul records, and some twist records, among other things. The Boog continuously purchases 45s in order to ensure that each DJ night is a unique experience and attendees are not subjected to the same dozen or so records at every event.

On the day of the Record Expo, more records were obtained; in all, a stack of 45s measuring about 6 and a half inches. Also, five 78s were picked up and they will be in the box for the next BIG TEN INCH.

On the night of April 2, The Boog was due to DJ at the Bootleg Bar: WHAM-O WATUSI, after driving all the way from Allentown back to Brooklyn. There was a little time to eat and unlax before driving out to Downtown Bushwick for the DJ gig. Guest was DJ Rata, a heavy, heavy cat with heavy, heavy records. In accordance with the recent international nature of the WHAM, Rata was born in Venezuela. Adding to that, he was accompanied by a young lass from Ireland!

DJ Rata in action at the WHAM-O WATUSI!

Rata has his own night, Mambo Jambo, held at Otto’s Shrunken Head on the third Saturday of the month. Acording to the Otto’s web-o-site, “Resident DJ Ratta bring you a Night dedicated to Blues, R&B, Mambo, Cha Cha’s, Rock & Roll, Mento , Ska, Rocksteady, Surf, Rock & Roll, Exotica, Boogaloo, Doo Wop, Soul and more…” Huh? “And more?” What else is there!!! He’s named just about every reet sound you can think of! This is what makes the Mambo Jambo so groovy: it has it all! Also, this is what makes DJ Rata such a fine selector: he plays it all! He sure did so at the WHAM-O WATUSI, and we’d like to thank him for it.

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus selects a record to play at the WHAM-O WATUSI!

Below is a list of the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, including 17 that he picked up in Allentown. Expect to hear further new acquisitions at upcoming Boogaloo Omnibus events.

• The Rumblers–Boss Strikes Back (Dot)*
• The Jaguars–The Beat (impression; UK)*
• The Wailer’s–Shakedown (Etiquette)*
• The Pat Holben Trio–I Am the Greatest (Fortune)*
• Marty Wilson and the Strat-O-Lites–I’m All Woke Up (Decca)*
• The Flying Tornados–Chattanooga Drummer Man (Glendale)
• The Orlons–It’s No Big Thing (Cameo)
• Tim Tam and the Turn-Ons–Cheryl Ann (Palmer)
• The Headliners–Tonight’s the Night (V.I.P.)
• The Five-Du-Tones–Outside the Record Hop ‘Trying to Get In’ (One-Derful!)
• Don Fletcher–I’m So Glad (Peacock)
• Lonnie Russ featuring Pat Hunt–Tell Me How (4J)
• Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland and His Band–You Did Me Wrong (Duke)
• Ronnie Tyler & the Knighthawks–Mad Maggie (Avant Garde)
• Owen Gray–Walk All Over (Studio 1; Jamaica)
• Joe Liggins and His Orchestra–They Were Doin’ the Mambo (Mercury)
• Thomas Sisters–Donde Esta Santa Claus? (Chief)
• Los Johnny Jets–Un Poquito de Alma (CBS; Costa Rica)
• Curtis Lee–Pretty Little Angel Eyes (Dunes)
• Ricky Nelson–I’m Walkin’ (Verve)*
• Smiley Lewis–Shane, Shane, Shane (sic) (Imperial)
• The Bracelets–Waddle, Waddle (Congress)
• Elvis Presley–Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On) (RCA Victor)
• The Spirals–The Rockin’ Cow (Capitol)
• Connie Francis–Gonna Git That Man (M-G-M)
• Tony Gee–Freeze (Time)
• Kelly Garrett–The Boy on the Drums (Palomar)
• The Teen-Beats–Swimmin’ Part Two (Original Sound)
• Laurel Aitken–Bagaboo (Big Diamond)
• The Maytals–Peeping Tom (Beverley’s; Jamaica)
• James Brown at the Organ–Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag (Smash)
• Bobby and Walter–Do It Like You Feel It (Sanns)
• Bobby Long & the Satelites–Stir It Up (Vegas)
• Cash McCall–More Power to You (PS)*
• Jodi Gales; music by Pillow of Strength–Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is (Savern)*
• Lou (Moondog) Lawton–$ & ¢ Dollars and Cents (Heart & Soul)*
• James Brown and the Famous Flames–I’ve Got Money (King)
• The Casuals–Money (That’s What I Want) (Minaret)
• The Riddlers–Batman Theme (Polydor; UK)
• Louis Jones–The Birds Is Coming (Decca)*
• Guadalajara Kings–Cu-Cu-Rru-Cu-Cu Paloma (Liberty)*
• Las Moscas–Prefiero Robar (Beg Borrow and Steal) (CBS; Peru)
• Bobby Russell and the Beagles–Roll Over Beethoven (Spar)
• Bern Elliott and the Fenmen–Nobody But Me (Decca; UK)
• The Gants–Road Runner (Liberty)
• Bo Diddley–Bo Meets the Monster [from EP Bo Diddley] (Chess)*
• Teddy Randazzo–Foot Sompin’ (ABC-Paramount)
• The Ineligibles–Do the Groove (Capella)
• Johnny Clark; The Four Playboys–Jungle Stomp (Norton)
• Ivi Pele and the Royal Samoans–Pago Pago Drums (49th State)
• The Individuals–Jungle Superman (Show Time)
• Stomp Gordon and his Orchestra–Ride Superman Ride (Savoy)
• Bobby Rydell–The Cha-Cha-Cha (Cameo)
• The Turtles–Buzz Saw (White Whale)
• Dave Berry–You’re Gonna Need Somebody (Decca; UK)
• Grant Higgins–Shame, Shame (Limelight)
• John Lee Hooker–Big Fine Woman (Elmor)
• Sunny and the Sunliners–Trick Bag (Tear Drop)
• Carlton Moore–Soul Jamaica (Tobin)
• Erric Barnett–Bumper to Bumper (Pama Supreme; UK)
• Mighty Sparrow–Calypso Boogaloo (RA; West Indies)
• King Errison–Samba D Jubilee (Canyon)
• John Torres and His Organ of Power–Caliente Baby ‘You Got It’ (Musart)
• Sam Samson and the Shufflers–Rockin’ Celinto (Verve)*
• Fantastic Dee-Jays–Fight Fire (Tri Power)*
• The Romancers–Love’s the Thing (Linda)
• Bake Turner–Violation (Rotate)*
• Donald Lautrec–Je Te L’Avais Bien Dit (Jupiter; Canada)
• Cliff Driver and His Orch.–Vosart (D-Tone)
• Ray Anthony–C’mon and Swim (Capitol)
• Sly Stewart–I Just Learned How to Swim (Autumn)
• Mike St. Shaw–Feel It (Capitol)
• Uno Dos Tres–Sugar Sugar (United Artists)
• The Sparks–Cool It (Cub)*
• Kip Anderson–I Feel Good (Everlast)
• The Astronauts–Movin’ (RCA; Japan)
• The Crickets–Maybe Baby (Brunswick)*
• Manfred Mann–When Will I Be Loved (United Artists)
• Shelton Dunaway & the Cupcakes–Honey Hush (Jin)
• Little Richard–Poor Boy Paul (Specialty)
• The Impacs–In the Midnight Hour (Sundi)

None of these records are for sale.